And yes, the stream of controlled Windows 8 leaks continues. This time around, Thurrot and Rivera have published a number of screenshots from Windows 8's brand-new tablet user interface, and surprise surprise, its built on Metro, the same design language that underpins Windows Phone 7. Windows 8 will also include its own PDF reader, Modern Reader, which also happens to be the first application packaged in Microsoft's new AppX format. Update: Long Zheng has some technical details on AppX, including this little tidbit: "The extensive list of properties signifies the comprehensive scope of this system to be the ideal deployment strategy for 'applications', in all essence of the word. In fact, the AppX format is universal enough so it appears to work for everything from native Win32 applications to framework-based applications and even *gasp* web applications. Games are also supported."

MS Office 2007 is a joke. They leveled the playing field for their customers to move to other Office Suites - transition costs (software, training, etc.) were actually lower to go to OpenOffice simply due to the retraining required for Office 2003 to Office 2007;

A joke that every business pays for, eh? OpenOffice is not a functional equivalent to even Office 2003. Put someone who uses Excel all day in front of it and they will give you a long list of complaints. I've seen this first hand.

OpenOffice's primary issue is speed, primarily due to a poor internal architecture, reliance on Java, etc. They fix that, and OpenOffice will be far better performing.

"MS Office 2007 is a joke. They leveled the playing field for their customers to move to other Office Suites - transition costs (software, training, etc.) were actually lower to go to OpenOffice simply due to the retraining required for Office 2003 to Office 2007;

A joke that every business pays for, eh? "

Most pay for it because they - or rather the corporate management - knows no better, buys into the sales from Microsoft, and don't realize that there are actual alternatives on the market - alternatives that may well meet their needs better.

OpenOffice is not a functional equivalent to even Office 2003. Put someone who uses Excel all day in front of it and they will give you a long list of complaints. I've seen this first hand.

I have.

Yes, there are many complaints about little things. But far fewer complaints than those same people moving to Office 2007.

A lot of those complaints can be quelled with a little education and instruction on OpenOffice.

"OpenOffice's primary issue is speed, primarily due to a poor internal architecture, reliance on Java, etc. They fix that, and OpenOffice will be far better performing.

Actually it is. Yes, it is suppose to be only optional. But try running OpenOffice without Java installed. Major components are no longer available. Work is underway to remove a lot of that dependency, but it'll still be a while until then.

Most don't realize it - since they already have Java installed for other things.

Your view of OpenOffice and Office is superficial and based on light use.

No, I am quite a heavy user of OpenOffice; and have helped a number convert. It's not for everyone - but neither is MS Office.

OpenOffice is C++ code, Java functionality was added later by Sun to boost the Java install base.

Do you just assume that everyone else fakes their knowledge as much as you do?

I've been following the development of OpenOffice for years. I even did a blog post a while back on how Sun was underfunding the project. Meanwhile MS has always had a massive team on Office because it is a cash cow for them. Like it or not that level of funding has translated into real world gains.

Blaming stoopid head CTOs for the lack of OO adoption doesn't make sense when many of those same companies are running LAMP stacks and Firefox. Just because something is free does not mean that it provides economic gains.